September 2009

“Come to the Masquerade” is the inviting theme for the Federal Way Symphony’s Third Annual Fall Gala, 6 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009 at the Twin Lakes Golf & Country Club in Federal Way. The fund-raiser benefits the symphony and its youth programs.

Organizers have planned a colorful and festive evening of fun, featuring an elegant dinner and silent and live auctions.

Other highlights include live music during the silent auction. Symphony music director and conductor A. Brian Davenport will play the piano and several Federal Way Symphony musicians will perform.

A former Federal Way Symphony summer music camp student will be a special guest speaker.

Cost is $80 per person. To make reservations, call the symphony office at 253-529-9857.

For more event information, visit www.federalwaysymphony.org.

Highline High School's Class of 1944 graduated in the midst of World War II.
Now, 65 years later the graduating seniors of the Burien school gathered again at the Burien Elks for a reunion on Sept. 19.
They look like they are still going strong.

About 60 residents of Nickelsville, the homeless encampment that located on Port of Seattle property at Terminal 107 Park, 4700 West Marginal Way, were evicted when Port of Seattle Police showed up Wednesday, Sept, 30.

This was the camp's eighth location since it was first evicted from a South Park vacant city lot Sept. 26 of last year.

At about 1 p.m. Kurt Beckett, communications director Port of Seattle and Port Chief E.C. Wilson approached the camp surrounded by TV cameras, still cameras, tape recorders, and microphones, and of course, homeless residents. They stated peacefully that many talks between Port officials and Nickelsville residents have already taken place, that there was no other Port property available for the residents, and that now was the time for residents to leave.

There was an amicable question-and-answer portion between a few residents and Beckett, but he and Wilson finally said residents must leave or they would be arrested by Port police.

Three official warning announcements were made by an officer on a megaphone from his car, then more than 20 officers quietly entered the camp.

Demolition has begun at the site of the new Fire Station 37 on the corner of Southwest Holden Street and 35th Avenue Southwest by contractors Kirtley-Cole.

Read a previous West Seattle Herald coverage here.

The new facility is supposed to be completed by mid-2010.

Port of Seattle officials expressed regret that some members of the homeless encampment known as ‘Nickelsville’ have thus far refused to voluntarily leave port property at Terminal 107 in West Seattle, according to a release from the Port Sept. 30.

The group set up the encampment on port property without permission and has been at the public park illegally for 69 days. The group’s presence violates city land use and shoreline codes as well as prohibitions against camping and lighting fires within the city of Seattle.

In addition, the Port of Seattle does not have the authority to provide land for housing or housing purposes.

Nickelsville organizers and residents have been given multiple warnings that if they did not leave by Sept. 30, they would be subject to arrest for trespassing. Many residents are choosing to leave, seeking help from resources offered throughout the county.

The Ballard High School girls soccer team faced off against Skyline, the top-ranked team in the state, Sept. 29. And, while they didn't get the win, they did prove they belong in the state's top tier.

Skyline (3-0-0 conference, 7-1-0 overall) scored the match's only goal on a corner kick in the 29th minute.

Apart from that one shot, the Beavers (1-1-1 conference, 2-4-2 overall) were the aggressor all match, coach Val Seid said.

He said the team controlled the ball and had about twice as many shots on goal as its opponents.

"We were the better team against Skyline," he said. "Skyline's coach didn't have much to say other than we outplayed them."

Seid said Skyline's coach and players were visibly unhappy with how the match went.

Seid said his team been playing very well and could very easily be 3-0 in the conference if not for one or two mistakes.

"Our girls are playing really tough," he said. "I don't see any reason they won't be one of the top teams in the state."

The Beavers' next match is against Eastlake (2-1-0 conference, 4-1-1 overall) at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Eastlake High School.

Seattle Parks and Recreation has extended the deadline for nominations for the Denny Awards, which honor volunteer service to the city’s parks system. The new deadline is 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
 
The awards will be presented at the third annual recognition ceremony, which will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

2008 recipients include West Seattle activists Paul and Libby Carr.
 
The Denny Awards acknowledge and honor the crucial role volunteers play in neighborhood parks, community centers, and recreation programs throughout the city.  Volunteers help Parks and Recreation staff and management in the work of the department and give valuable advice on important decisions about our Parks and Recreation facilities and operations.

Volunteers also pull ivy and plant native trees in our parks, coach kids’ sports, work as docents at selected parks and the Seattle Aquarium, and serve on various advisory councils and boards.
 
The name of the awards reflects the early commitment by the Denny family to the preservation of parkland and open space for public use and enjoyment. David Denny donated land that became the first Seattle park, Denny Park, in 1864.
 

Teen alcohol and drug use took center stage Sept. 29 at Madison Middle School as concerned parents and members of several organizations brainstormed ways to confront substance abuse.

Several students returning from an anti-drug coalition conference spoke at the meeting, speaking about some incidents where high school students ended up in the hospital because of alcohol abuse.

Everyone agreed; teen drinking and marijuana use is a problem. The bigger problem, however, could be how to find a solution.

“The community is not taking this as a serious issue,” said Renae Gaines, a community coordinator for the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership. “It really takes a whole community to make change.”

Members of the Southwest Healthy Youth Partnership won a federal grant during 2006, but the government plans to cease the program during this upcoming June. In the meantime, members brainstormed ways to increase community involvement—from both parents and students.

Sustainable West Seattle, CoolMom and BALLE Seattle will host the 6th Annual Eat Local Now! fundraising dinner at the West Seattle Masonic Hall on Sunday Oct. 11 from 5 to 10 p.m.

The evening includes dinner, speakers active in the local food movement, exhibitors, a silent auction, music and dancing. According to a news release from the organizers, it’s an opportunity to enjoy a locally produced dinner while celebrating the people who grow, cook and support the local food movement. 

The star attraction is a menu of fresh local food prepared by talented area chefs. Locally and sustainably produced beer, wine and fresh cider will be available at a cash bar. 

Dave Muehleisen from 21 Acres Farm in the Sammamish Valley will speak about the challenges facing Puget Sound farmers. Exhibitors will present information on many local food related organizations, with a silent auction offering donated items from restaurant gift certificates to CSA subscriptions.

The Jeff Fairhall Local Food Hero Award will be presented to a person working to promote local food in the community at the event. Local Food Heroes can be nominated by sending an e-mail to info@eatlocalnow.org.

One inch to 6 inches per year? Huh? Why can’t they decide?

We often see this kind of information on a plant tag at the nursery, or in plant listings online, the growth rate that differs as much as one foot sometimes.

Why don’t we know how big it grows? What’s up with that?

This kind of growth rate information is common on plants that are shipped by the larger nurseries throughout states and Canada. Instead of creating a dozen different tags for each climate zone the plant can be grown in, they group the rates together on the one tag to save time and money.

I found this out when I started mailing plants, years ago through Ebay. A woman from the East Coast engaged me after purchasing some plants and was asking about the growth rates, as she wanted only true miniatures for her collection. I sent her some wee conifers and signed off for the season.

I got back in touch with her in the fall, only to learn that the wee conifers grew too fast that summer.

“But, they were slow-growing dwarfs, about 1.5 inches per year?” I queried.

“In Seattle they are. In North Carolina, they aren’t!” She said.